X-ray imaging apparatus and position determination support unit for x-ray imaging apparatus

Abstract

An X-ray imaging apparatus has a position determination support unit for that allows adjustment of the relative angular relationship between a detection surface of the X-ray detection element and the irradiation direction of the X-ray of the X-ray irradiation element. The X-ray imaging apparatus has an X-ray irradiation element, an X-ray detection element, an angular relationship detection element that detects the relative angular relationship between the detection surface of the X-ray detection element and the irradiation direction of X-rays of the X-ray irradiation element. A projection element projects the irradiation position marker indicating the position where the X-ray is irradiated from the X-ray irradiation element on a body surface of a subject. The projection element changes the display mode of the irradiation position marker based on the deviation level relative to the preset setting angle of the detected angular relationship.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An X-ray imaging apparatus, comprising:
 an X-ray irradiation element that irradiates an X-ray to a subject;   an X-ray detection element that detects an X-ray irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element;   an angular relationship detection element that detects a relative angular relationship between a detection surface of said X-ray detection element and an irradiation direction of said X-ray of said X-ray irradiation element; and   a projection element that projects an irradiation position marker specifying a position where said X-ray is irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element on a body surface of said subject;   wherein said projection element changes a display mode of said irradiation position marker based on a deviation level relative to a preset setting angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element.   
     
     
         2 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said projection element projects said irradiation position marker indicating a position of an irradiation center of said X-ray irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element on said body surface of said subject, and change said display mode of said irradiation position marker indicating said position of said irradiation center based on said deviation level relative to the setting angle of said angular relationship.   
     
     
         3 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said projection element changes said display mode of said irradiation position marker by switching at least two selected displays from a group consisting of a display, a non-display and a blinking-display of said irradiation position marker projected on said body surface of said subject based on said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element.   
     
     
         4 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said angular relationship detection element detects said angular relationship between a first rotation direction, of which a longitudinal axis direction is a rotation axis, and a second rotation direction, of which a rotation axis is a horizontal axis direction, between said longitudinal axis direction and said horizontal axis direction are orthogonal each other on said detection surface of said X-ray detection element, and said projection element changes individually said display mode of said irradiation position marker relative to a first deviation level and said display mode of said irradiation position marker relative to a second deviation level, wherein each of said first deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship in said first rotation direction and said second deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship in said second rotation direction are individually distinguishable one another.   
     
     
         5 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said projection element projects said irradiation position marker having a cruciform indicating a position of said irradiation center of said X-ray irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element by projecting a linear first projection light and a linear second projection light orthogonal each other on said body surface of said subject, and changes said display mode of either projection light of said first projection light or said second projection light based on said first deviation level and in addition changes said display mode of the other rest projection light between said first projection light and said second projection light based on said second deviation level.   
     
     
         6 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said projection element turns said irradiation position marker to non-display when said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element is larger than an angle deviation threshold value preliminarily set, and turns said irradiation position marker to display when said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship is smaller than said angle deviation threshold value.   
     
     
         7 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said projection element turns said irradiation position marker to the blinking-display when said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element is larger than said angler deviation threshold value preliminarily set, and changes a blinking cycle of said irradiation position marker for the blinking-display corresponding to said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship.   
     
     
         8 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said setting angle is an orthogonal angle that denotes said angular relationship in which said irradiation direction of said X-ray of said X-ray irradiation element is orthogonal to said detection surface of said X-ray detection element, and said projection element changes said display mode of said irradiation position marker based on the deviation level relative to said orthogonal angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element.   
     
     
         9 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said angular relationship detection element detects said angular relationship in a third rotation direction wherein said orthogonal direction orthogonal to said detection surface of said X-ray detection element is a rotation axis; and   said projection element projects a rotation instruction marker on said body surface of said subject to instruct a change of said angular relationship along said third rotation direction and change said display mode of said rotation instruction marker based on said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship.   
     
     
         10 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said angular relationship detection element, further comprises:
 a marker member installed to said X-ray detection element; 
 an imaging element that is arranged in said X-ray irradiation element and images optically said marker member; and 
 a control element that detects said angular relationship based on said marker member imaged by said imaging element; 
 wherein said control element calculates a deviation level relative to said setting angle of said angular relationship based on said detected angular relationship, and changes said display mode of said irradiation position marker projected by said projection element based on said deviation level relative to said setting angle of said calculated angular relationship. 
   
     
     
         11 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said projection element, said imaging element and said control element are installed on said X-ray irradiation element and demountable.   
     
     
         12 . The X-ray imaging apparatus, according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a position detection element that detects a relative positional relationship between said X-ray detection element and said X-ray irradiation element;   wherein said projection element projects a moving instruction marker to instruct to change said positional relationship in a direction along said detection surface of said X-ray detection element on said body surface of said subject, and to change said display mode of said moving instruction marker based on a deviation level relative to said preset setting position of said positional relationship detected by said positional relationship detection element.   
     
     
         13 . A position determination support unit, for an X-ray imaging apparatus,
 said angular relationship detection element that detects relative angular relationship between an irradiation direction of said X-ray of said X-ray irradiation element that irradiates said X-ray and said detection surface of said X-ray detection element that detects said X-ray irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element; and   a projection element that projects said irradiation position marker specifying said position where said X-ray is irradiated from said X-ray irradiation element on said body surface of said subject;   wherein said projection element changes said display mode of said irradiation position marker based on a deviation level relative to said preset angle of said angular relationship detected by said angular relationship detection element.